U.S. patent number 9,972,939 [Application Number 15/653,823] was granted by the patent office on 2018-05-15 for connector with fitting detection member.
This patent grant is currently assigned to YAZAKI CORPORATION. The grantee listed for this patent is YAZAKI CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Nobuyuki Sakamoto, Tetsuya Sekino, Toshinori Yamamoto.
United States Patent |
9,972,939 |
Sekino , et al. |
May 15, 2018 |
Connector with fitting detection member
Abstract
A second locked part engaged with a second locking part releases
a contact between detection protrustion and the second locking part
located at a temporary engagement position at which the contact
between the detection protrusion and the second locking part
prevents a movement of a fitting detection member in a first
direction and allows the fitting detection member to move in the
first direction. A deflection regulator of the fitting detection
member located at a complete engagement position at which a first
locked part is engaged with a first locking part regulates a
deflection amount of a fitting lock arm within a range in which an
engagement between the second locking part and the second locked
part is unreleasable while an engagement between the first locking
part and the first locked part is releasable.
Inventors: |
Sekino; Tetsuya (Shizuoka,
JP), Sakamoto; Nobuyuki (Shizuoka, JP),
Yamamoto; Toshinori (Shizuoka, JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
YAZAKI CORPORATION |
Tokyo |
N/A |
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
YAZAKI CORPORATION (Minato-ku,
Tokyo, JP)
|
Family
ID: |
61010675 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/653,823 |
Filed: |
July 19, 2017 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20180034206 A1 |
Feb 1, 2018 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Jul 29, 2016 [JP] |
|
|
2016-149205 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
13/639 (20130101); H01R 13/6272 (20130101); H01R
13/641 (20130101); H01R 13/642 (20130101); H01R
13/6278 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
13/641 (20060101); H01R 13/639 (20060101); H01R
13/642 (20060101); H01R 13/627 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;439/489 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Lyons; Michael A
Assistant Examiner: Jeancharles; Milagros
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Sughrue Mion, PLLC
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A connector comprising: a first housing configured to house a
terminal; a second housing configured to house a mating terminal
and fittable with the first housing; and a fitting detection member
mounted from a rear of the first housing in a first direction in
which the first housing approaches the second housing in a fitted
direction between the first housing and the second housing, the
fitting detection member being configured to detect a fitted state
between the first housing and the second housing, wherein the first
housing comprises: a fitting lock arm extending toward a second
direction opposite to the first direction; a first locking part
provided in the fitting lock arm and engageable with the fitting
detection member; and a second locking part provided in the fitting
lock arm and engageable with the second housing, the fitting
detection member comprises: a detection lock arm extending toward
the first direction; a detection protrusion provided in the
detection lock arm; a deflection regulator configured to regulate a
deflection amount of the fitting lock arm; and a first locked part
engageable with the first locking part, the second housing
comprises a second locked part engageable with the second locking
part, the fitting detection member is movable between a temporary
engagement position and a complete engagement position, the
temporary engagement position at which a contact between the
detection protrusion and the second locking part prevents a
movement of the fitting detection member in the first direction,
the complete engagement position to which the fitting detection
member moves from the temporary engagement position in the first
direction and at which the first locked part is engaged with the
first locking part, the second locked part engaged with the second
locking part releases the contact between the detection protrusion
and the second locking part located at the temporary engagement
position and allows the fitting detection member to move in the
first direction, and the deflection regulator of the fitting
detection member located at the complete engagement position
regulates the deflection amount of the fitting lock arm within a
range in which an engagement between the second locking part and
the second locked part is unreleasable while an engagement between
the first locking part and the first locked part is releasable.
2. The connector of claim 1, wherein a deflection direction of the
fitting lock arm for releasing the engagement between the first
locking part and the first locked part and a deflection direction
of the fitting lock arm for releasing the engagement between the
second locking part and the second locked part are a same
direction, and the deflection regulator of the fitting detection
member located at the complete engagement position interferes with
the fitting lock arm deflected in the same direction.
3. The connector of claim 1, wherein a deflection direction of the
fitting lock arm for releasing the engagement between the first
locking part and the first locked part and a deflection direction
of the fitting lock arm for releasing the engagement between the
second locking part and the second locked part are opposite to each
other, and the deflection regulator of the fitting detection member
located at the complete engagement position interferes with the
fitting lock arm deflected in the deflection direction for
releasing the engagement between the second locking part and the
second locked part.
4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the fitting detection member
is inserted onto the first housing.
5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first locking part is
located at an end of a free end side of the fitting lock arm, and
the second locking part is located at a position closer to a fixed
end than the first locking part of the fitting lock arm.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority
from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-149205, filed
on Jul. 29, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated
herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates to a connector, and more particularly, to a
connector including a first housing capable of housing a terminal;
a second housing capable of housing a mating terminal; and a
fitting detection member capable of detecting a fitted state
between the first housing and the second housing.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, a connector including a fitting detection member
has been proposed. For example, one (hereinafter, referred to as an
`conventional connector`) of the conventional connectors includes a
male housing capable of housing a male terminal, a female housing
capable of housing a female terminal, and a fitting detection
member capable of detecting engagement (i.e., fitting of the
connector) between a fitting lock arm extended from the female
housing and a fitting protrusion protruding from the male housing.
The conventional connector has a structure in which a protrusive
piece-shaped regulator extended from the fitting detection member
is located at a position interfering with the fitting lock arm to
prevent the fitting between the fitting lock arm and the fitting
protrusion from being unintentionally released (prevent the fitting
lock arm from being far away from the fitting protrusion). JP
2012-74190 A proposes such a connector.
SUMMARY
The conventional connector has a structure in which the fitting
detection member can be separated from the housing by purling the
fitting detection member toward a rear of a fitted direction with a
force larger than a predetermined engagement force in consideration
of workability or the like when the fitting is intentionally
released.
For this reason, the conventional connector is excellent in
workability when the fitting is released, but has a problem in that
the fitting detection member may be unintentionally separated from
the housing when excessively large external forces (impact,
vibration and the like exceeding the engagement force) are applied
to the fitting detection member. Even if the fitting detection
member is unintentionally separated in this way, a fitted state of
the connector is maintained by an elastic force of the fitting lock
arm, such that the fitting of the connector is not directly
released. However, if the external force is applied to the fitting
lock arm in the state in which the fitting detection member is
separated, the fitting lock arm is deflected, such that the fitting
of the connector may be released.
For this reason, countermeasures such as devising a location of the
conventional connector so as not to apply the external force to the
fitting detection member well may be required depending on an use
environment of the conventional connector. As a result, it has
become difficult to improve the workability when the conventional
connector is used.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector in
which a fitted state of the connector can be detected and
unintentional release of fitting of the connector can be
prevented.
A connector in accordance with some embodiments includes: a first
housing configured to house a terminal; a second housing configured
to house a mating terminal and fittable with the first housing; and
a fitting detection member mounted from a rear of the first housing
in a first direction in which the first housing approaches the
second housing in a fitted direction between the first housing and
the second housing, the fitting detection member being configured
to detect a fitted state between the first housing and the second
housing. The first housing includes: a fitting lock arm extending
toward a second direction opposite to the first direction; a first
locking part provided in the fitting lock arm and engageable with
the fitting detection member; and a second locking part provided in
the fitting lock arm and engageable with the second housing. The
fitting detection member includes: a detection lock arm extending
toward the first direction; a detection protrusion provided in the
detection lock arm; a deflection regulator configured to regulate a
deflection amount of the fitting lock arm; and a first locked part
engageable with the first locking part. The second housing includes
a second to part engageable with the second locking part. The
fitting detection member is movable between a temporary engagement
position and a complete engagement position, the temporary
engagement position at which a contact between the detection
protrusion and the second locking part prevents a movement of the
fitting detection member in the first direction, the complete
engagement position to which the fitting detection member moves
from the temporary engagement position in the first direction and
at which the first locked part is engaged with the first locking
part. The second locked part engaged with the second locking part
releases the contact between the detection protrusion and the
second locking part located at the temporary engagement position
and allows the fitting detection member to move in the first
direction. The deflection regulator of the fitting detection member
located at the complete engagement position regulates the
deflection amount of the fitting lock arm within a range in which
an engagement between the second locking part and the second locked
part is unreleasable while an engagement between the first locking
part and the first locked part is releasable.
According to the above configuration, when the connector is fitted,
if the fitting detection member approaches a second housing in a
state in which the fitting detection member is at a temporary
engagement position (position at which forward movement of the
fitting detection member is prevented), a first housing also
approaches the second housing along with the fitting detection
member, such that the first housing and the second housing are
fitted with each other. Further, of the contact between the
detection protrusion and the second locking part is released
according to the fitting, such that the fitting detection member
can move forward. For this reason, a fitted state between the first
housing and the second housing can be detected depending on a
position of the fitting detection member (in detail, whether the
fitting detection member is at the temporary engagement position or
whether the fitting detection member moves forward from the
temporary engagement position).
Further, when the fitting detection member is at a complete
engagement position (position at which the fitting detection member
and the first housing are engaged with each other), a deflection
amount of the fitting lock arm is regulated by a deflection
regulator so as to be in a range in which engagement of the first
locking part can be released but engagement of the second locking
part cannot be released. For this reason, when the fitting is
intentionally released, the fitting lock arm is deflected to
release engagement between the fitting detection member and the
first housing (engagement between the first locking part and a
first locked part), and then move the fitting detection member from
the complete engagement position toward the temporary engagement
position, and the fitting lock arm is deflected to release
engagement between the first housing and the second housing
(engagement between the second locking part and a second locked
part). In other words, when the fitting of the connector is
released, two operations of releasing (first releasing) the
engagement between the fitting detection member and the first
housing and releasing (second releasing) the engagement between the
first housing and the second housing are performed. Therefore, in
the connector having the above configuration, the unintentional
release of the fitting of the connector can be more certainly
prevented as compared with the conventional connector.
As a result, according to the above configuration, the fitted state
of the connector can be detected and the unintentional release of
the fitting can be prevented.
By the way, the "first direction" (front in the fitted direction)
refers to a direction in which the first housing moves (approaches
the second housing) when the first housing engages with the second
housing. Meanwhile, the "second direction" (rear in the fitted
direction) refers to a direction in which the first housing moves
(becomes far away from the second housing) when the engagement
between the first housing and the second housing is released. The
same goes for the fitting detection member and the second
housing.
A deflection direction of the fitting lock arm for releasing the
engagement between the first locking part and the first locked part
and a deflection direction of the fitting lock arm for releasing
the engagement between the second locking part and the second
locked part may be a same direction, and the deflection regulator
of the fitting detection member located at the complete engagement
position may interfere with the fitting lock arm deflected in the
same direction.
According to the above configuration, the deflection direction of
the fitting lock arm for releasing the engagement of the first
locking part and the deflection direction of the fitting lock arm
for releasing the engagement of the second locking part are the
same as each other. For this reason, when the fitting is released,
a series of operations of performing the above-mentioned first
releasing, movement of the fitting detection member toward the
temporary engagement position, and the above-mentioned second
releasing can be continuously performed just like a single
operation. Therefore, in the connector having the above
configuration, the unintentional release of the fitting of the
connector can be prevented, and the fitting of the connector can be
easily released when the fitting of the connector is intentionally
released.
A deflection direction of the fitting lock arm for releasing the
engagement between the first locking part and the first locked part
and a deflection direction of the fitting lock arm for releasing
the engagement between the second locking part and the second
locked part may be opposite to each other, and the deflection
regulator of the fitting detection member located at the complete
engagement position may interfere with the fitting lock arm
deflected in the deflection direction for releasing the engagement
between the second locking part and the second locked part.
According to the above configuration, the deflection direction of
the fitting lock arm for releasing the engagement of the first
locking part and the deflection direction of the fitting lock arm
for releasing the engagement of the second locking part are
opposite to each other. For this reason, when the fitting is
released, the fitting lock arm is deflected toward the former
direction to move the fitting detection member toward the temporary
engagement position simultaneously with performing the first
releasing, and the fitting lock arm is then deflected toward the
latter direction to perform the second releasing. That is, a series
of operations of releasing the fitting are performed while changing
the deflection direction of the fitting lock arm. Therefore, in the
connector having the above configuration, an operation of releasing
the fitting of the connector is somewhat complicated, but
unintentional release of the fitting of the connector can be more
certainly prevented due to the complicated operation.
The fitting detection member may be inserted onto the first
housing.
According to the above configuration, since the fitting detection
member is inserted onto the first housing, if an operator who fits
the connector approaches the fitting detection member to the second
housing only by holding the fitting detection member (i.e., without
holding the first housing), detection of the fitted state and
engagement between the fitting detection member and the first
housing may be performed continuously as a series of operations.
Therefore, the connector having the present configuration can more
easily be fitted since it is unnecessary for the operator to change
the fitting detection member, as compared with a case in which the
fitting detection member is inserted into the first housing and the
like.
The first locking part may be located at an end of a free end side
of the fitting lock arm, and the second locking part may be located
at a position closer to a fixed end than the first locking part of
the fitting lock arm.
According to the above configuration, the first locking part is
provided at an end of a free end side of the fitting lock arm, and
the second locking part is provided at a position closer to the
fixed end than the first locking part. For this reason, when the
fitting lock arm is deflected around the fixed end, a movement
amount of the first locking part becomes larger than that of the
second locking part. As a result, it is possible to easily regulate
the deflection amount by the deflection regulator by adjusting a
length of the fitting lock arm, locations of the first locking part
and the second locking part, a location of the deflection regulator
and the like.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a female housing
according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a fitting detection
member according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a case in which the
fitting detection member of FIG. 2 is mounted to the female housing
of FIG. 1 (a case in which the fitting detection member is at a
temporary engagement position).
FIG. 4 is a rear view of the female housing and the fitting
detection member of FIG. 3 viewed from a rear in a fitted
direction.
FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the female housing and the
fitting detection member, and a male housing according to the first
embodiment in a state before the female housing and the fitting
detection member are fitted with the male housing (a state in which
the female housing and the fitting detection member are separated
from the male housing) taken along line A-A of FIG. 4.
FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the female housing and the
fitting detection member, and the male housing according to the
first embodiment in the state before the female housing and the
fitting detection member are fitted with the male housing (the
state in which the female housing and the fitting detection member
are separated from the male housing), taken along line B-B of FIG.
4.
FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of the female housing and the
fitting detection member, and the male housing in a state while the
female housing and the fitting detection member are fitted with the
male housing (a state in which the female housing is fitted with
the male housing), taken along line A-A of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the female housing and the
fitting detection member, and the male housing in the state while
the female housing and the fitting detection member are fitted with
the male housing (the state in which the female housing is fitted
with the male housing), taken along line B-B of FIG. 4.
FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of the female housing and the
fitting detection member, and the male housing in a state while the
female housing and the fitting detection member are fitted with the
male housing (while the fitting detection member moves to a
complete engagement position), taken along line A-A of FIG. 4.
FIG. 7B s cross-sectional view of the female housing and the
fitting detection member, and the male housing in the state while
the female housing and the fitting detection member are fitted with
the male housing (while the fitting detection member moves to the
complete engagement position), taken along line B-B of FIG. 4.
FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view of the female housing and the
fitting detection member, and the male housing in a state in which
fitting of the female housing and the fitting detection member with
the male housing is completed (a state in which the fitting
detection member is at the complete engagement position), taken
along line A-A of FIG. 4.
FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of the female housing and the
fitting detection member, and the male housing in the state in
which the fitting of the female housing and the fitting detection
member with the male housing is completed (the state in which the
fitting detection member is at the complete engagement position),
taken along line B-B of FIG. 4.
FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view of the female housing and the
fitting detection member, and the male housing in a state while the
fitting is released (a state in which engagement between the
fitting detection member and the female housing is released), taken
along line A-A of FIG. 4.
FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of the female housing and the
fitting detection member, and the male housing in the state while
the fitting is released (the state in which the engagement between
the fitting detection member and the female housing is released),
taken along line B-B of FIG. 4.
FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view of the female housing and the
fitting detection member, and the male housing in a state while the
fitting is released (a state in which the fitting detection member
returns to the temporary engagement position), taken along line A-A
of FIG. 4.
FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view of the female housing and the
fitting detection member, and the male housing in the state while
the fitting is released (the state in which the fitting detection
member returns to the temporary engagement position), taken along
line B-B of FIG. 4.
FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of a female housing
according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view of a fitting detection
member according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view of a case in which the
fitting detection member of FIG. 12 is mounted to the female
housing of FIG. 11 (a case in which the fitting detection member is
at a temporary engagement position).
FIG. 14 is a rear view of the female housing and the fitting
detection member of FIG. 13 viewed from a rear in a fitted
direction.
FIG. 15A is a cross-sectional view of the female housing and the
fitting detection member, and a male housing of a connector
according to the second embodiment in a state in which fitting of
the female housing and the fitting detection member with the male
housing is completed (a state in which the fitting detection member
is at a complete engagement position), taken along line C-C of FIG.
14.
FIG. 15B is a cross-sectional view of the female housing and the
fitting detection member, and the male housing of the connector
according to the second embodiment in the state in which the
fitting of the female housing and the fitting detection member with
the male housing is completed (the state in which the fitting
detection member is at the complete engagement position), taken
along line D-D of FIG. 14.
FIG. 16A is a cross-sectional view of the female housing and the
fitting detection member, and the male housing in a state while the
fitting is released (a state in which engagement between the
fitting detection member and the female housing is released), taken
along line C-C of FIG. 14.
FIG. 16B is a cross-sectional view of the female housing and the
fitting detection member, and the male housing in the state while
the fitting is released (the state in which the engagement between
the fitting detection member and the female housing is released),
taken along line D-D of FIG. 14.
FIG. 17A is a cross-sectional view of the female housing and the
fitting detection member, and the male housing in a state while the
fitting is released (a state in which the fitting detection member
returns to the temporary engagement position), taken along line C-C
of FIG. 14.
FIG. 17B is a cross-sectional view of the female housing and the
fitting detection member, and the male housing in the state while
the fitting is released (the state in which the fitting detection
member returns to the temporary engagement position), taken along
line D-D of FIG. 14.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation,
numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a
thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be
apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced
without these specific details. In other instances, well-known
structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify
the drawing.
Description will be hereinbelow provided for embodiments of the
present invention by referring to the drawings. It should be noted
that the same or similar parts and components throughout the
drawings will be denoted by the same or similar reference signs,
and that descriptions for such parts and components will be omitted
or simplified. In addition, it should be noted that the drawings
are schematic and therefore different from the actual ones.
First Embodiment
Hereinafter, a connector 100 according to a first embodiment of the
present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to
10B.
Structure of Connector
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 10B (particularly, FIGS. 5A and 5B),
the connector 100 includes a female housing (first housing) 110, a
fitting detection member 120, and a male housing (second housing)
130.
In FIGS. 1 to 10B, a direction in which the female housing 110
faces the male housing 130 is referred to as a front in a fitted
direction, a direction opposite to the front is referred to as a
rear in the fitted direction, and a height direction of the female
housing 110 orthogonal to front and rear directions is referred to
as a vertical direction. The same goes for front and rear
directions and vertical directions of the fitting detection member
120 and the male housing 130. It should be noted that, in FIGS. 1
to 4, an up direction, a down direction, a front direction, and a
rear direction are denoted by UP, DN, FT, and RR, respectively.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the female housing 110 has a tubular
shape having openings formed at the front and the rear in the
fitted direction. The female housing 110 has a fitting lock arm 111
extended toward the rear in the fitted direction. The fitting lock
arm 111 has a cantilevered shape having a fixed end formed at the
front in the fitted direction and a free end formed at the rear in
the fitted direction. The female housing 110 includes fitting
detection member engaging parts (first locking parts) 112 provided
at an end of a free end side (rear side) of the fitting lock arm
111 and a male housing engaging part (second locking part) 113
provided at a fixed end side from the fitting detection member
engaging parts 112.
The fitting detection member engaging part 112 is a member
(protruding member) that can be engaged with the fitting detection
member 120 when the connector 100 is fitted, and the male housing
engaging part 113 is a member (pillar-shaped member) that can be
engaged with the male housing 130 when the connector 100 is
fitted.
Furthermore, side walls of the female housing 110 are provided with
guide rails 114 for slidably mounting the fitting detection member
120 and abutting walls 115 onto which the fitting detection member
120 abuts (i.e. with which the fitting detection member 120 is in
contact) when the fitting detection member 120 is at a complete
engagement position. The abutting walls 115 are provided with side
wall groove portions 116. A lower wall of the female housing 110 is
provided with lower wall groove portions 117.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the fitting detection member 120 has a
ring shape circulated around an axial line in the fitted direction
(front and rear directions). The fitting detection member 120 has a
detection lock arm 121 extended toward the front in the fitted
direction. The detection lock arm 121 has a cantilevered shape
having a fixed end formed at the rear in the fitted direction and a
free end formed at the front in the fitted direction. The fitting
detection member 120 includes a detection protrusion 122 provided
near the free end of the detection lock arm 121, deflection
regulators 123 capable of regulating a deflection amount of the
fitting lock arm 111, and engaging parts (first locked parts) 124
corresponding to the fitting detection member engaging parts 112 of
the female housing 110.
Further, side walls of the fitting detection member 120 are
provided with abutting walls 125 abutting onto the abutting walls
115 of the female housing 110 when the fitting detection member 120
is at the complete engagement position, insertion holes 126 into
which the guide rails 114 of the female housing 110 are inserted,
and side wall protrusions 127 inserted into the side wall groove
portions 116 of the abutting walls 115 of the female housing 110. A
lower wall of the fitting detection member 120 is provided with
lower wall protrusions 129 inserted into the lower wall groove
portions 117 of the female housing 110.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the fitting detection member 120 is
mounted to the female housing 110 so as to be inserted onto the
female housing 110 (or inserted on the exterior of the female
housing 110) from a rear of the female housing 110. In FIG. 3, the
detection protrusion 122 of the fitting detection member 120 abuts
onto a rear wall surface of the male housing engaging part 113 of
the female housing 110, such that a forward movement of the fitting
detection member 120 is restricted. In other words, when the
fitting detection member 120 is pushed forward in a state
illustrated in FIG. 3, the fitting detection member 120 does not
move forward (does not relatively move with respect to the female
housing 110), but the female housing 110 itself moves forward.
If the fitting detection member 120 is at a position illustrated in
FIG. 3, the fitting detection member engaging parts 112 of the
female housing 110 and the engaging parts 124 of the fitting
detection member 120 are separated from each other, and are not
engaged with each other. In other words, the fitting detection
member 120 is temporarily engaged with the female housing 110.
Therefore, the position of the fitting detection member 120
illustrated in FIG. 3 is also referred to as a temporary engagement
position.
Further, if the fitting detection member 120 is at the temporary
engagement position as described above, the guide rails 114 of the
female housing 110 are inserted into the insertion holes 126 of the
sidewalls of the fitting detection member 120, distal ends of the
side wall protrusions 127 of the fitting detection member 120 are
inserted into the side wall groove portions 116 of the female
housing 110, and distal ends of the lower wall protrusions 128 of
the fitting detection member 120 are inserted into the lower wall
groove portions 117 of the female housing 110. Therefore, even when
the fitting detection member 120 is at the temporary engagement
position, a displacement (wobble) between the female housing 110
and the fitting detection member 120 is suppressed.
In this case, the abutting walls 125 of the fitting detection
member 120 do not abut onto the abutting walls 115 of the female
housing 110. The abutting walls 125 of the fitting detection member
120 and the abutting walls 115 of the female housing 110 abut onto
each other when the fitting detection member 120 moves to the
complete engagement position (for example, see FIGS. 8A and
8B).
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the female housing 110 has inner walls
118 that connect a lower wall and an upper wall thereof to each
other, and has a plurality of terminal housing chambers 119 within
areas (three areas in the present example) divided by the inner
walls 118. It should be noted that FIG. 4 illustrates a state in
which the terminal housing chambers 119 do not house terminals for
convenience of explanation.
Fitting of Connector
Next, procedures of fitting the connector 100 will be described
with reference to FIGS. 5A to 8B.
First, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, at a point in time before the
fitting of the connector 100 starts, the female housing 110 (see
FIG. 3) onto which the fitting detection member 120 is inserted
from the rear is separated from the male housing 130. The male
housing 130 has an engaging part (second locked part) 131
corresponding to the male housing engaging part 113 of the female
housing 110 and terminal housing chambers 132. At this point in
time, the detection protrusion 122 of the fitting detection member
120 abuts onto the rear wall surface of the male housing engaging
part 113 of the female housing 110, such that the relative forward
movement of the fitting detection member 120 with respect to the
female housing 110 is prevented. Further, as illustrated in FIG.
5B, at this point in time, the fitting detection member engaging
part 112 of the female housing 110 and the engaging part 124 of the
fitting detection member 120 are spaced from each other.
At this point, female terminals 141 housed in the terminal housing
chambers 119 of the female housing 110 are separated from male
terminals 161 housed in the terminal housing chambers 132 of the
male housing 130. Further, the female terminals 141 are engaged by
spacers 151 (and lances (not illustrated) or the like), and the
male terminals 161 are engaged by spacers 171 (and lances (not
illustrated) or the like). Electric wires 142 are extended behind
the female terminals 141, and electric wires 172 are extended
behind the male terminals 161.
Next, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, if the fitting of the connector
100 starts, the female housing 110 to which the fitting detection
member 120 is mounted is inserted into the male housing 130. In
detail, if an operator pushes the fitting detection member 120
toward the male housing 130, the relative forward movement of the
fitting detection member 120 with respect to the female housing 110
is prevented, such that the female housing 110 (and the fitting
detection member 120) approaches the male housing 130.
At this time, since a front wall surface of the male housing
engaging part 113 of the female housing 110 is inclined with
respect to the fitted direction, the engaging part 131 of the male
housing 130 is seated on the male housing engaging part 113 and
then climbs over the male housing engaging part 113. As a result,
the engaging part 131 of the male housing 130 is engaged with the
male housing engaging part 113. Further, at this time, the
detection protrusion 122 of the fitting detection member 120 is
pressed down by the engaging part 131. The detection lock arm 121
is deflected downward by the detection protrusion 122 pressed down
as described above. It should be rioted that FIG. 6A illustrates an
arrangement of the male housing engaging part 113, the detection
protrusion 122, and the engaging part 131 at this point in
time.
At this point in time, distal ends of the male terminals 161
protruding from terminal protruding holes 132a of the male housing
130 pass through terminal insertion holes 119a in the female
housing 110 and are then inserted into the female terminals 141.
Therefore, the female terminals 141 and the male terminals 161 are
electrically connected to each other. In addition, at this point in
time, an inner wall surface of the female housing 110 provided with
the terminal inserting holes 119a and an inner wall surface of the
male housing 130 provided with the terminal protruding holes 132a
abut onto each other. As a result, the female housing 110 and the
male housing 130 can no longer approach each other.
Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 6B, at this point in time, the
fitting detection member engaging part 112 of the female housing
110 and the engaging part 124 of the fitting detection member 120
are separated from each other, and are not engaged with each
other.
Next, as illustrated in FIG. 7A, if the fitting detection member
120 in a state of FIG. 6A is further pushed toward the male housing
130, the detection protrusion 122 of the fitting detection member
120 passes under the male housing engaging part 113 and then moves
toward the male housing 130. As a result, the entire fitting
detection member 120 approaches the male housing 130. Meanwhile,
even if the fitting detection member 120 moves in this way, the
female housing 110 cannot move forward as described above. For this
reason, at this point in time, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, the
engaging part 124 of the fitting detection member 120 and the
fitting detection member engaging part 112 of the female housing
110 come into contact with each other. Since a rear wall surface of
the fitting detection member engaging part 112 is inclined with
respect to the fitted direction and a front wall surface of the
engaging part 124 is also inclined with respect to the fitted
direction, the fitting lock arm 111 is guided to the inclined
surfaces and thus starts to be deflected downward.
Next, as illustrated in FIG. 8A, if the fitting detection member
120 in a state of FIG. 7A is further pushed toward the male housing
130, the detection protrusion 122 of the fitting detection member
120 passes under the male housing engaging part 113 of the female
housing 110 and then moves to the front of the male housing
engaging part 113 to be thus engaged with the male housing engaging
part 113. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 8B, at this point in
time, the fitting detection member engaging part 112 of the female
housing 110 and the engaging part 124 of the fitting detection
member 120 are engaged with each other.
At this point in time, the abutting walls 125 of the fitting
detection member 120 abut onto the abutting walls 115 (see FIG. 3)
of the female housing 110. Therefore, the fitting detection member
120 cannot move forward beyond this position.
If the fitting detection member 120 is at a position illustrated in
FIGS. 8A and 8B, the fitting detection member engaging part 112 of
the female housing 130 and the engaging part 124 of the fitting
detection member 120 are engaged with each other. Therefore, in
this case, the fitting detection member 120 cannot move rearward,
such that fitting detection member 120 and the female housing 110
cannot be separated from each other. In other words, the fitting
detection member 120 is in a state in which it is completely
engaged with the female housing 110. Therefore, the position of the
fitting detection member 120 illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B is also
referred to as a "complete engagement position".
As described above, the fitting of the female housing 110 with the
male housing 130 starts in a state in which the fitting detection
member 120 is in the temporary engagement position, and the fitting
detection member 120 reaches the complete engagement position by
the fitting of the female housing 110 with the male housing 130
(electrical connection between the female terminals 141 and the
male terminals 161). At this point, the fitting of the connector
100 is completed. Accordingly, the connector 100 can detect a
fitted state (further forward movement from the temporary
engagement position) and perform the engagement of the fitting
detection member 120 (engagement at the complete engagement
position) only by pushing the fitting detection member 120 toward
the male housing 130.
Release of Fitting of Connector
Next, procedures of releasing the fitting of the connector 100
(separating the female housing 110 from the male housing 130 to
release the electrical connection between the female terminals 141
and the male terminals 161) will be described with reference to
FIGS. 9A to 10B.
First, as illustrated in FIG. 9B, the fitting lock arm 111 of the
female housing 110 is deflected downward so that the fitting
detection member engaging part 112 of the female housing 110 and
the engaging part 124 of the fitting detection member 120 of the
connector 100 (see FIGS. 8A and 8B) of which the fitting is
completed are separated from each other. Both the fitting detection
member engaging part 112 and the male housing engaging part 113
that are provided at the fitting lock arm 111 move downward by the
deflection.
At this time, since the fitting lock arm 111 abuts onto the
deflection regulator 123 of the fitting detection member 120
located thereunder, a deflection amount of the fitting lock arm 111
is restricted. As a result of the restriction, as illustrated in
FIG. 9B, the engagement between the fitting detection member
engaging part 112 and the engaging part 124 is released, but as
illustrated in FIG. 9A, the engagement between the engaging part
131 of the male housing 130 and the male housing engaging part 113
is not released. In other words, the deflection regulator 123
regulates the deflection amount of the fitting lock arm 111 to be
in a range in which the engagement of the male housing engaging
part 113 cannot be released while the engagement of the fitting
detection member engaging part 112 can be released. Therefore, at
this point in time, the female housing 110 and the male housing 130
cannot be separated from each other.
Next, as illustrated in FIG. 10A, if the fitting detection member
120 in a state of FIG. 9A is pulled to be far away from the male
housing 130, a rear wall surface of the detection protrusion 122 of
the fitting detection member 120 is inclined with respect to the
fitted direction, such that the detection protrusion 122 moves to
pass under the male housing engaging part 113 of the female housing
110. That is, the fitting detection member 120 moves from the
complete engagement position toward the temporary engagement
position. As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 10B, the deflection
regulator 123 moves rearward along with the fitting detection
member 120, such that the fitting lock arm 111 of the female
housing 110 becomes far away from the deflection regulator 123.
Therefore, the regulation of the deflection amount of the fitting
lock arm 111 is released, such that the fitting lock arm 111 can be
further deflected downward.
In this state, if the fitting lock arm 111 is further deflected
downward, as illustrated in FIG. 10A, the male housing engaging
part 113 moves downward beyond the engaging part 131 of the male
housing 130, such that the engagement between the male housing
engaging part 113 and the engaging part 131 is released. In other
words, the female housing 110 and the male housing 130 are in a
state in which they can be separated from each other. In this
state, if the fitting detection member 120 and the female housing
110 move rearward, the female housing 110 and the male housing 130
are separated from each other (return to the state illustrated in
FIGS. 5A and 5B).
As described above, the fitting between the female housing 110 and
the male housing 130 starts to be released (separated) in a state
in which the fitting detection member 120 is at the complete
engagement position to deflect the fitting lock arm 111, thereby
releasing the engagement between the fitting detection member 120
and the female housing 110 (engagement between the fitting
detection member engaging part 112 and the engaging part 124) and
then moving the fitting detection member 120 toward the temporary
engagement position. In this state, the fitting lock arm 111 is
further deflected to release the engagement between the female
housing 110 and the male housing 130. In other words, when the
fitting of the connector 100 is released, two operations of
releasing (first releasing) the engagement between the fitting
detection member 120 and the female housing 110 and releasing
(second releasing) the engagement between the female housing 110
and the male housing 130 are performed. Therefore, in the connector
100, the unintentional release of the fitting of the connector can
be more certainly prevented, as compared with the conventional
connector.
In addition, since a deflection direction of the fitting lock arm
111 for releasing the engagement of the fitting detection member
engaging part 112 and a deflection direction of the fitting lock
arm 111 for releasing the engagement of the male housing engaging
part 113 are the same as each other (for example, a downward
direction in FIGS. 9A and 9B), a series of operations of performing
the above-mentioned first releasing, the movement of the fitting
detection member 120 toward the temporary engagement position, and
the above-mentioned second releasing can be continuously performed
just like a single operation. Therefore, in the connector 100, the
unintentional release of the fitting of the connector can be
prevented, and the fitting of the connector can be easily released
when the fitting of the connector is intentionally released.
Second Embodiment
Hereinafter, a connector (hereinafter, referred to as a `connector`
200) according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure
will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 17B. The connector
200 mainly differs from the connector 100 according to the first
embodiment in a structure for engaging between a fitting detection
member and a female housing. Therefore, the difference will be
mainly described in detail below, and in connection with the
connector 200, a description of portions having substantially the
same functions and structures as those of the connector 100 will be
omitted properly.
Structure of Connector
As illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 17B (particularly, FIGS. 15A and
15B), the connector 200 includes a female housing (first housing)
210, a fitting detection member 220, and a male housing (second
housing) 230, like the connector 100.
As illustrated in FIG. 11, a female housing 210 has a tubular
shape, and includes a fitting lock arm 211, fitting detection
member engaging parts (first locking parts) 212, a male housing
engaging part (second locking part) 213, guide rails 214, abutting
walls 215, side wall groove portions 216, and lower wall groove
portions 217.
As illustrated in FIG. 12, the fitting detection member 220 has a
ring shape and includes a detection lock arm 221, a detection
protrusion 222, deflection regulators 223, engaging parts (first
locked parts) 224, abutting walls 225, insertion holes 226, side
wall protrusions 227, and lower wall protrusions 228. The engaging
part 224 of the fitting detection member 220 has a protruding shape
protruding upward, unlike the fitting detection member 120 (having
a shape protruding downward) of the first embodiment.
As illustrated in FIG. 13, the fitting detection member 220 is
inserted onto the female housing 210 from a rear of the female
housing 210. The detection protrusion 222 of the fitting detection
member 220 abuts onto a rear wall surface of the male housing
engaging part 213 of the female housing 210, such that a forward
movement of the fitting detection member 220 is restricted. A
position of the fitting detection member 220 illustrated in FIG. 13
is also referred to as a `temporary engagement position` like the
first embodiment.
As illustrated in FIG. 14, the female housing 210 has inner walls
218 that connect a lower wall and an upper wall thereof to each
other, and has a plurality of terminal housing chambers 219 within
areas divided by the inner walls 218. It should be noted that FIG.
14 illustrates a state in which the terminal housing chambers 219
do not house terminals, like the first embodiment.
Fitting of Connector
As illustrated in FIG. 15A, when fitting of the connector 200 is
completed (when the fitting detection member 220 is at a complete
engagement position), the male housing engaging part 213 provided
at the fitting lock arm 211 of the female housing 210 and an
engaging part (second locked part) 231 of the male housing 230 are
engaged with each other. At this time, as illustrated in FIG. 15B,
the fitting detection member engaging part 212 provided at the
fitting lock arm 211 of the female housing 210 and the engaging
part 224 of the fitting detection member 220 are engaged with each
other.
In more detail, as illustrated in FIG. 15B, the fitting detection
member engaging part 212 of the female housing 210 moves to climb
over the engaging part 224 of the fitting detection member 220 to
be thus engaged with the engaging part 224. For this reason, unlike
the first embodiment, in procedures of releasing the fitting of the
connector 200 to be described below, a deflection direction of the
fitting lock arm 211 for releasing engagement of the fitting
detection member engaging part 212 and a deflection direction of
the fitting lock arm 211 for releasing engagement of the male
housing engaging part 213 is opposite to each other.
Release of Fitting of Connector
When the fitting of the connector 200 is released, the fitting lock
arm 211 of the female housing 210 is first deflected upward so that
the fitting detection member engaging part 212 of the female
housing 210 and the engaging part 224 of the fitting detection
member 220 of the connector 200 (see FIGS. 15A and 15B) of which
the fitting is completed are separated from each other, as
illustrated in FIG. 16B. The fitting detection member engaging part
212 provided at the fitting lock arm 211 moves upward by the
deflection.
At this time, since the deflection direction (an upward direction)
of the fitting lock arm 211 is opposite to a deflection direction
(a downward direction) in which engagement between the male housing
engaging part 213 of the female housing 210 and the engaging part
231 of the male housing 230 is released, engagement between the
fitting detection member engaging part 212 and the engaging part
224 is released, but as illustrated in FIG. 16A, the engagement
between the engaging part 231 of the male housing 230 and the male
housing engaging part 213 is not released. In other words, the
deflection regulator 223 regulates a deflection amount of the
fitting lock arm 211 to be in a range in which the engagement of
the male housing engaging part 213 cannot be released while the
engagement of the fitting detection member engaging part 212 can be
released. As a result, at this point in time, the female housing
210 and the male housing 230 cannot be separated from each
other.
Next, as illustrated in FIG. 17A, if the fitting detection member
220 in a state of FIG. 16A is pulled to be far away from the male
housing 230, a rear wall surface of the detection protrusion 222 of
the fitting detection member 220 is inclined with respect to a
fitted direction, such that the detection protrusion 222 moves to
pass under the male housing engaging part 213 of the female housing
210. That is, the fitting detection member 220 moves from the
complete engagement position toward the temporary engagement
position. As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 17B, the deflection
regulator 223 moves rearward along with the fitting detection
member 220, such that the fitting lock arm 211 of the female
housing 210 becomes far away from the deflection regulator 223.
Therefore, the regulation of the deflection amount of the fitting
lock arm 211 is released, such that the fitting lock arm 211 can be
deflected downward.
In this state, if the fitting lock arm 211 is deflected downward,
as illustrated in FIG. 17A, the male housing engaging part 213
moves downward beyond the engaging part 231 of the male housing
230, such that the engagement between the male housing engaging
part 213 and the engaging part 231 is released. In other words, the
female housing 210 and the male housing 230 are in a state in which
they can be separated from each other. In this state, if the
fitting detection member 220 and the female housing 210 move
rearward, the female housing 210 and the male housing 230 are
separated from each other.
As described above, the fitting between the female housing 210 and
the male housing 230 starts to released (separated) in a state in
which the fitting detection member 220 is at the complete
engagement position to deflect the fitting lock arm 211 upward,
thereby releasing the engagement between the fitting detection
member 220 and the female housing 210 (engagement between the
fitting detection member engaging part 212 and the engaging part
224) and then moving the fitting detection member 220 from the
complete engagement position toward the temporary engagement
position. In this state, the fitting lock arm 211 is deflected
downward to release the engagement between the female housing 210
and the male housing 230. In other words, when the fitting of the
connector 200 is released, two operations of releasing (first
releasing) the engagement between the fitting detection member 220
and the female housing 210 and releasing (second releasing) the
engagement between the female housing 210 and the male housing 230
are performed. Therefore, in the connector 200, the unintentional
release of the fitting of the connector can be more certainly
prevented, as compared with the conventional connector.
Furthermore since the deflection direction of the fitting lock arm
211 for releasing the engagement of the fitting detection member
engaging part 212 and the deflection direction of the fitting lock
arm 211 for releasing the engagement of the male housing engaging
part 213 are opposite to each other (for example, an upward
direction in FIGS. 16A and 16B and a downward direction in FIGS.
17A and 17B), the fitting lock arm 211 is deflected in the former
direction to move the fitting detection member 220 toward the
temporary engagement position simultaneously with performing the
first releasing, and the fitting lock arm 211 is then deflected in
the latter direction to perform the second releasing. That is, a
series of operations are performed while changing the deflection
direction of the fitting lock arm 211. Therefore, in the connector
200, an operation of releasing the fitting of the connector is
somewhat complicated, but unintentional release of the fitting of
the connector can be more certainly prevented due to the
complicated operation.
Here, the respective features of the embodiments of the connector
according to the present disclosure described above are simply
arranged in the following 1) to 5).
1) A connector (100, 200) includes: a first housing (110, 210)
capable of housing a terminal (141); a second housing (130, 230)
capable of housing a mating terminal (161); and a fitting detection
member (120, 220) capable of detecting a fitted state between the
first housing (110, 210) and the second housing (130, 230). The
first housing (110, 210) includes: a fitting lock arm (111, 211)
extending toward a rear in a fitting direction; a first locking
part (112, 212) provided in the fitting lock arm (111, 211) and
engageable with the fitting detection member (120, 220); and a
second locking part (113, 213) provided in the fitting lock arm
(111, 211) and engageable with the second housing (130, 230). The
fitting detection member (120, 220) includes: a detection lock arm
(121, 221) extending toward a front in the fitting direction; a
detection protrusion (122, 222) provided in the detection lock arm
(121, 221); a deflection regulator (123, 223) capable of regulating
a deflection amount of the fitting lock arm (111, 211); and a first
locked part (124, 224) corresponding to the first locking part
(112, 212). The second housing (130, 230) includes a second locked
part (131, 231) corresponding to the second locking part (113,
213). When the connector (100, 200) is fitted, the fitting
detection member (120, 220) is mounted to the first housing (110,
210) from the rear of the fitting direction and moved from a
temporary engagement position to a complete engagement position.
The temporary engagement position is at which the detection
protrusion (122, 222) is in contact with the second locking part
(113, 213) and a movement of the fitting detection member (120,
220) toward the front in the fitting direction is prevented. The
complete engagement position is at which the contact of the
detection protrusion (122, 222) with the second locking part (113,
213) is released by the second locked part (131, 231) engaged with
the second locking part (113, 213) and the fitting detection member
(120, 220) moves toward the front in the fitting direction and at
which the first locked part (124, 224) is engaged with the first
locking part (112, 212). When the fitting detection member (120,
220) is located at the complete engagement position, the deflection
regulator (123, 223) regulates the deflection amount of the fitting
lock arm (111, 211) within a range in which an engagement between
the second locking part (113, 213) and the second locked part (131,
231) is unreleasable while an engagement between the first locking
part (112, 212) and the first locked part (124, 224) is
releasable.
2) In the connector (100) of above 1), a deflection direction of
the fitting lock arm (111) for releasing the engagement between the
first locking part (112) and the first locked part (124) and a
deflection direction of the fitting lock arm (111) for releasing
the engagement between the second locking part (113) and the second
locked part (131) are a same direction, and when the fitting
detection member (120) is located at the complete engagement
position, the deflection regulator (123) exists in a position where
the deflection regulator (123) interferes with the fitting lock arm
(111) when the fitting lock arm (111) is deflected in the same
direction.
3) In the connector (200) of above 1), a deflection direction of
the fitting lock arm (211) for releasing the engagement between the
first locking part (212) and the first locked part (224) and a
deflection direction of the fitting lock arm (211) for releasing
the engagement between the second locking part (213) and the second
locked part (231) are opposite to each other, and when the fitting
detection member (220) is located at the complete engagement
position, the deflection regulator (223) exists in a position where
the deflection regulator (223) interferes with the fitting lock arm
(211) when the fitting lock arm (211) is deflected in the
deflection direction for releasing the engagement between the
second locking part (213) and the second locked part (231).
4) In the connector (100, 200) of any one of above 1) to 3) the
fitting detection member (120) is inserted onto the first housing
(110).
5) In the connector (100, 200) of any one of above 1) to 4), the
first locking part (112) is located at an end of a free end side of
the fitting lock arm (111), and the second locking part (113) is
located at a position closer to a fixed end than the first locking
part (112) of the fitting lock arm (111).
Embodiments of the present invention have been described above.
However, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms
without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics
thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in
ail respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the
invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the
foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning
and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be
embraced therein.
Moreover, the effects described in the embodiments of the present
invention are only a list of optimum effects achieved by the
present invention. Hence, the effects of the present invention are
not limited to those described in the embodiment of the present
invention.
* * * * *